How often do I use the phrase, “Go big or go home?”
Let’s see….
When I go to the gym and am torn between going up a weight, I go up.
When I’m at a party and there’s a dessert that looks amazing, I have some.
When I’m trashing up a recipe and think, “Should I add yet another mix-in to this?” I always do.
These bars are a kind of “go big or go home” treat. Everyone knows that magic bars, 7-layer bars, whatever-you-want-to-call-them-classic-cookie-exchange-bars are rich, sweet, and made for indulging. So I took a hint from Naomi, scaled back the health factor (ummmm apples), and added a little oomph with some caramel and walnuts.
- I heartily recommend enjoying these with a glass of cold milk or hot coffee to cut some of the sweetness. They’re also good straight up. And if you ask me how big of a piece to go for, you know the answer. Go big or go home.
- (But don’t ask me how to cut them into uniform pieces.)
Caramel Pumpkin Magic Bars
- Prep Time: 20m
- Cook Time: 35m
- Total Time: 55m
- Yield: 24 bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (~16 whole crackers)
- 8 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Layers
- 15 ounces can sweetened condensed milk
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup Kraft caramel bits
- 3/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- To prepare your pan, line the inside of a 13x9 pan with aluminum foil. Spray with nonstick spray.
- To make the crust, crush the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add melted butter and pulse until combined. Press the crust into prepared pan.
- To make the filling, combine the pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, and spices in a bowl. Stir until combined. Then spread the mixture evenly over the crust.
- Next, in this order, sprinkle caramel bits, chocolate chips, walnuts, and coconut on top of the sweetened condensed milk layer. Gently press the dry ingredients into the sweetened condensed milk layer.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. You\'ll know the bars are done when they seem set and the coconut is lightly toasted.
- Allow to cool before slicing into bars. The bars keep their shape best when they are stored in the refrigerator, but allow to warm up before serving.
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